Jenny Ware (Hughes, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr Speaker, my question is to the Minister for Indigenous Australians. The minister told Australians through the website of her agency, the National Indigenous Australians Agency, that, 'A makarrata commission will also be co-designed to work on a national process of treaty-making.' Can the minister update the House on this government's plan for treaty-making?

Linda Burney (Barton, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Indigenous Australians) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank the member for her question. This side of the House is laser focused on the one thing that we have spoken about, and that is the referendum on 14 October. We are appealing to the Australian people, with thousands and thousands and thousands of other Australians, to recognise Aboriginal people in the Constitution. And as I said yesterday, this is good for all of us. It is also about creating a Voice enshrined by the Constitution to get better advice so that we make sure that what we do in terms of Aboriginal affairs changes the terrible life trajectory that so many people have.

Susan Templeman (Macquarie, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Treasurer: What are the benefits of recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples through a Voice for both Australian society and the Australian economy? What are the consequences of alternative proposals?

Jim Chalmers (Rankin, Australian Labor Party, Treasurer) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thanks to the member for understanding what the PM has said on a number of occasions. This is First Nations people reaching out their hands to us, and we shouldn't slap their hands away. This is a gracious and generous invitation and it's a generational opportunity. This is our chance to bring together our principles and our pragmatism and do something that we can be genuinely proud of. The Voice is about constitutional recognition, it's about listening and it's about getting better outcomes for the first of us in a way that could lift all of us up.

It's about doing things differently and doing things better in our economy and in our society, and getting better value for money as we try and close the gap. That's what the Voice is about.

It's not about the lies and the misinformation which we have seen peddled by parts of the 'no' campaign. The Leader of the Opposition has not distanced himself from that misinformation; he has embraced it. In this campaign of misinformation and mistruths the opposition leader is the chief propagandist. We saw that yesterday.

Milton Dick (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Manager of Opposition Business on a point of order.

Paul Fletcher (Bradfield, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Government Services and the Digital Economy) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

It's a very similar point of order to the one that was necessary because of the answer from the Attorney-General. You ruled rightly there. The Treasurer, too, should be reminded of standing order 90 and should be counselled against drawing imputations against other members in this House.

Milton Dick (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I listened to both questions, and there is a slight difference in this question because it did say to discuss the alternative proposals. I'm just assuming that's where the Treasurer is headed. I remind all members of that standing order and the language that they use to show respect for one another in the chamber. I give him the call.

Jim Chalmers (Rankin, Australian Labor Party, Treasurer) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

We saw misinformation in the way that the Leader of the Opposition tried to verbal Minister Burney yesterday in this place. Minister Burney is a person of authority, character and grace who wants nothing more and nothing less than better outcomes for people in this country.

Garth Hamilton (Groom, Liberal National Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

You didn't distance yourself from Marcia.

Milton Dick (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The member for Groom.

Jim Chalmers (Rankin, Australian Labor Party, Treasurer) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Leader of the Opposition has taken the weirdest whispers from the furthest fringes of social media, legitimised them and amplified them here in the people's house of the parliament. He has seen this from the very beginning not as a chance for unity—

Milton Dick (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The member for Page.

Jim Chalmers (Rankin, Australian Labor Party, Treasurer) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

but as an excuse to practise the usual nasty, negative, angry, dishonest and divisive politics. That's why his policy is for two referendums, not one.

Milton Dick (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Treasurer will pause. The Manager of Opposition Business on a point of order.

Paul Fletcher (Bradfield, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Government Services and the Digital Economy) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Since you reminded the Treasurer of standing order 90, he has spent the next part of his answer continuing to consistently impute improper motives and he should not be doing it. It is unparliamentary. There are a number of things he's said there which, frankly, he should be withdrawing.

Milton Dick (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Assistant Treasurer is not helping. Please cease interjecting. The Leader of the House on a point of order.

Mr Tony Burke (Watson, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I have two things. On direct relevance, the question went to the consequences of alternatives, which is exactly what the Treasurer is now doing. Secondly, it would be extraordinary if accusing someone of divisiveness was now considered beyond parliamentary debate. Something like that has never been considered the imputation of a motive.

Milton Dick (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I'm going to ask the Treasurer to temper his language, but he's able to answer the question as he sees fit within the standing orders. I can't compel anyone to answer a certain way that everyone would like. Only the Treasurer or the minister can do that. He has the call.

Jim Chalmers (Rankin, Australian Labor Party, Treasurer) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

One of the consequences of the Leader of the Opposition's policy for two referendums, not one, is that this will drag out for as long as possible so the Leader of the Opposition can drip more poison into the well. That's how he seeks to divide and diminish this country and reap a political dividend from that.

Opposition members interjecting—

Milton Dick (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I'll hear from the deputy leader, but I want to deal with this matter.

Sussan Ley (Farrer, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Women) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The House needs to absolutely insist that the Treasurer withdraw that disgraceful slur.

Milton Dick (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

To assist the House to get through this question time, I'm going to ask the Treasurer to withdraw that last part so we can continue.

Jim Chalmers (Rankin, Australian Labor Party, Treasurer) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I withdraw. Australia can rise above the anger, the division and the dishonesty which characterise the Leader of the Opposition's approach to this referendum.

Opposition members interjecting—

Milton Dick (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order.

Jim Chalmers (Rankin, Australian Labor Party, Treasurer) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

We can get this done in one referendum and, in the process, not leave it to our kids to sort out in some kind of generational back-pass. That's the opportunity before us, and it's an opportunity that we cannot afford to waste.

Govern ment members: Hear, hear.

Milton Dick (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Before I call the member for Fowler, the member for Casey doesn't seem to be getting the memo. He is continually interjecting through every answer. He will leave the chamber under 94(a). If people continue the same behaviour, they will leave as well. I give the call to the honourable member for Fowler.